As Kerala’s Left government marks its fourth anniversary, a survey conducted by The Indian Express raises serious questions about Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet. Has public trust eroded due to governance shortcomings?

In the ratings, industries Minister P. Rajeev topped the list with a score of 6.52 out of 10. He also led in public credibility with a score of 6.33. Ganesh Kumar (6.15), K.N. Balagopal, and K. Krishnankutty (5.92) also secured top positions among ministers rated for credibility.

However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan scored only 5.83 overall, with a credibility rating of just 5.5 — indicating a slight sense of dissatisfaction among the public. The most discussed aspect of the report was the performance of P.A. Mohammed Riyas, Pinarayi’s son-in-law and the Minister for Tourism and Public Works. He received a low overall score of 4.67 and a credibility score of just 3.75. Only A.K. Saseendran scored lower, with a credibility rating of 3.33.

The survey results have opened up discussions on the future leadership of the CPI(M). The emergence of names like Rajeev, Rajesh, and Balagopal as potential successors to Pinarayi reflects how their individual credibility and performance are valued within the party.

Political observers are closely watching how Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will respond to these assessments. Will the decline in one of the most crucial leadership qualities — public trust — steer internal party dynamics in a new direction?